Method and filling station for filling a container comprising a pressurized additive chamber

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of filling a container (62) and to a pressurizing unit (60) comprising a first and a second pressurizing station (64,75). A transport member (61) transports the containers (62) along the pressurizing stations (64,75). An applicator (66) supplies a liquid pressurizing medium into the containers (62) at the first pressurizing station (64). A feeding unit (68) closes the containers with a cap (70). The cap has an additive chamber that is in fluid communication with the container interior via a valve. The applicator (77) at the second pressurizing station (75) supplies liquid pressuring medium to the additive chamber of the cap (70). A sealing station (80) seals the additive chamber such that the pressure 10 inside the additive chamber is lower than the pressure in the container. Upon opening of the cap by a consumer, the contents of the additive chamber are injected into the container.

Claims

1. A method of filling a container comprising: Placing a pressurizing medium in a container having an outflow opening and containing a substance, Closing off the outflow opening of the container with a closure member, either prior to or after placing the pressurizing medium in the container, the closure member comprising an additive chamber and a valve, Placing the valve in fluid communication with the pressurized container in such a manner that the valve is in a closed position when contacted by the pressure in the container, characterized by Placing an additive substance and a liquefied or solid gas pressurizing medium into the additive chamber of the closure member via an additive full opening, After a predetermined time, sealing a pressure sealing member over the additive fill opening such that there is a predetermined pressure in the additive chamber that is smaller than the pressure inside the container and larger than an atmospheric pressure and sealing the additive chamber using a pressure sealing member not comprising a valve.

2. (canceled)

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pressurizing medium comprises the same gas that is applied to the container and to the additive chamber in different amounts.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein after application of the liquefied or solid gas pressurizing medium to the additive chamber, gas is allowed to evaporate from the additive chamber until the pressure in the additive chamber is below the pressure in the container.

5. A method of filling a container comprising the. feeding a container holding a substance, to a pressurizing unit, moving the container along a first pressurizing station having an applicator that places a pressurizing medium into the filled container, feeding a cap to the filled container comprising a valve and an additive chamber, closing the container with the cap either prior to or after placing the pressurizing medium in the container, placing the valve in fluid communication with the pressurized container in such a manner that the valve is in a closed position by contact with the pressure in the container, feeding the assembled container and cap along a second pressurizing station, placing a liquid or solid pressurizing medium into the additive chamber via an additive fill opening such that a pressure in the additive chamber is lower than the pressure in the container, feeding the assembled container and cap along a sealing station, and placing a pressure sealing member on the additive fill opening of the additive chamber of the cap, wherein the pressure sealing member does not comprise a valve.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein an applicator at the first pressurizing station supplies a first amount of liquified or sold pressurizing medium and at the second pressurizing station an applicator supplies a second amount of the pressurizing medium that is smaller than the first amount.

7. The method according to claim 5 in which the applicator and the sealing station are situated along a rotating feeding station.

8. A pressurizing unit comprising a first and a second pressurizing stations, a transport member for transporting containers along the pressurizing stations, an applicator that is adapted to supply liquid of solid pressurizing medium into the containers at the first pressurizing station, a feeding unit adapted to supply a cap with an additive chamber and closing off the pressurized container with the cap, upstream or downstream from the first pressurizing station, such that a pressure inside the container is at a first pressure value, wherein the applicator at the second pressurizing station is adapted to supply liquid or solid pressuring medium to the additive chamber of the cap via an additive fill opening and a sealing station adapted to seal the additive chamber with a pressure sealing member not comprising a valve, such that the pressure inside the additive chamber is lower than the pressure in the container.

9. The pressurizing unit according to claim 8, wherein the applicator at the first pressurizing station is adapted to supply a first amount of liquid or solid pressurizing medium into the containers, and wherein the applicator at the second pressurizing station being adapted to supply a second amount of liquid or solid pressurizing medium that differs from a first amount of pressurizing medium that is supplied by the applicator at the first pressurizing station.

10. The pressurizing unit according to claim 8, comprising between the first and second pressurizing stations, an additive filling station for filling of the additive chamber with an additive product.

11. The method according to claim 4, wherein the pressurizing medium comprises the same gas that is applied to the container and to the additive chamber in different amounts.

12. The method according to claim 6 in which the applicator and the sealing station are situated along a rotating feeding station.

13. The pressurizing unit according to claim 9, comprising between the first and second pressurizing stations, an additive filling station for filling of the additive chamber with an additive product.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pressurizing medium in the container comprises a liquified or solid gas pressurizing medium and is placed in the container prior to closing off the outflow opening of the container with the closure member.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein after application of the liquefied or solid gas pressurizing medium to the additive chamber, gas is allowed to evaporate from the additive chamber until the pressure in the additive chamber is below the pressure in the container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] An embodiment of a method of filling a container and a filling station according to the invention will by way of non-limiting example, be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0050] FIG. 1 shows the pressurization of a container with a cap and additive chamber according to the invention,

[0051] FIGS. 2a-2d schematically show an embodiment of a method of pressurizing according to the invention wherein a bottle is filled via its neck,

[0052] FIGS. 3a-3b schematically show an embodiment, wherein the bottle is filled through its bottom,

[0053] FIGS. 4a-4d schematically show an embodiment using a separate cap and additive chamber,

[0054] FIGS. 5a-5d schematically show another embodiment of a method according to the invention, and

[0055] FIG. 6 shows a pressurizing unit according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a container in the form of a bottle 1 with a neck 2 having a thread 3. A cap 4 engages via an internal thread 5 with the threaded neck 2. The cap 4 comprises and additive chamber 7 holding an additive substance 8. The cap sealingly engages with a seal 9 of neck 2. At the bottom surface 12 of the chamber 7, an exit opening 14 is provided that is closed by a valve 13. The valve 13 is closed by an overpressure in the head space 15 situated over the product chamber 16. The overpressure may for instance be 2 bars and is provided by introducing a drop 17 of liquid nitrogen into the interior of the bottle 1 via the open neck 2. This has been schematically indicated.

[0057] After placing the drop of nitrogen 17 into the bottle 1, the cap 4 is placed on the neck 2 to seal the bottle. The liquid nitrogen will boil to return to its gaseous state and fill the head space 15, while closing the valve 13. Shortly prior to, or after placing the cap 4, an additive substance 18 is placed into the additive chamber 7. A drop of liquid nitrogen 20 is introduced into the additive chamber 7 and a seal 22 is applied, for instance by ultrasonic welding, to seal the chamber 7. The nitrogen 20 returns to its gaseous state and results in a pressure of 1 bar in the headspace 19.

[0058] The cap 4 has an outer sleeve 25 and an inner reservoir 26 with a wall 27 that slidingly engages with an inner surface 28 of the outer sleeve 25. The upper section 29 of the wall 27 is supported within the annular cavity defined by the inner annular ridge 30 that extends from the top of the cap 4.

[0059] When the outer sleeve is turned by a user to open the bottle 1, the outer sleeve 25 is moved upward. The internal pressure in the headspace 15 presses the inner reservoir 26 upward so that it comes away from the seal 9 and the pressure of the headspace 15 is released to the ambient. This causes a drop in pressure that will cause the valve 13 to open under the influence of the pressure in the headspace 19 and the contents of the additive chamber 7 will be injected into the product chamber 16 of the bottle 1, to mix with the product that is contained in the product chamber 16.

[0060] FIGS. 2a-2d show the steps of filling a container 35 with a liquid product 36 through the container neck 37 in step a, and introducing a droplet of a liquid pressurizing medium 38 through the neck 37 in step b. Then the cap 39 is placed on the neck 37 with the valve 40 in contact with the head space 45 so that it is closed by the head space pressure. An additive substance 42 is placed in the additive chamber 41 and a droplet 43 of pressurizing medium 43 is introduced in the chamber 41. I step d, a seal 46 is applied on the cap 39 by ultrasonic welding.

[0061] In FIGS. 3a and 3b it is illustrated that a container 35 is filled via a fill nozzle 47 through the bottom of the container, via a relatively large fill opening that allows rapid filling. The neck 37 comprises a small opening 49 through which the drop of pressurizing substance 38 is introduced in step 3b. A seal 50 is applied to close off the fill opening at the bottom 48 prior to carrying out the introduction of the pressurizing substance 38. Following step 3b, a cap 39 comprising an additive chamber 41 can be applied to the neck 37 and which can be pressurized in the same manner as illustrated in FIGS. 2c and 2d.

[0062] In FIGS. 4a-4d it is illustrated that the cap 52 that closes off the outflow opening of the neck 37 of the container 35 and the capsule 55 containing the additive substance, are separate component parts. The cap 52 closes off the outflow opening in the neck 37 while the capsule 55 is accommodated in a recess 51 in the bottom 48 of the container 35. The capsule 55 is provided with a riser tube 53 that allows the additive chamber to be emptied when the capsule is turned around so that the valve 40 faces upwards. As shown in FIG. 4a, the container 35 is filled with product 36 in an upside-down orientation, with the cap 52 on the neck 37, through a fill opening 56 in the recess 51. In FIG. 4b, the pressurizing medium is introduced through the fill opening 56. In FIG. 4c, it shown that the capsule 55 is placed in the recess 51 with the valve 40 in contact with the pressurized head space 45. The capsule 55 is filled with the additive substance 42 and the drop 43 of liquefied or solid or solid gas is applied. In FIG. 4d, a seal 50 is applied closing off the recess 51 and fixing the capsule 55 in position.

[0063] In FIGS. 5a-5d an embodiment is described in which the container 35 is filled with product 36 through its neck 37. After introducing the pressurizing medium 38, the neck 37 is closed off with a cap 52 as shown in FIG. 5c. The capsule 55 is inserted into the recess 51 such that the valve 40 projects through the container wall and is contact with the container interior. The capsule 55 with the riser tube 53, is filled and pressurized through the bottom of the capsule and in step 5d a seal 50 is applied. The container 35 with the cap 52 in place may be turned upside down, prior to inserting the capsule 55 into the recess 51 as shown in FIG. 5c. This will provide easy filling and pressurizing of the capsule 55 under gravity flow conditions.

[0064] FIG. 6 shows a pressurizing unit 60 comprising a carousel 61, rotating in the direction of the arrow R. The carousel 61 receives filled bottles 62 that are transported on a conveyor 63 in the direction of the arrow T. The pressuring unit 60 comprises a first pressurizing station 64 with an arm 65 supporting on its end an applicator 66 through which a drop of liquid nitrogen is supplied from a central supply 67 and is introduced into the bottles via their open necks.

[0065] The bottles next rotate along a cap feeding and placement station 68 that connects the caps 70, having empty additive chambers, onto the bottles, which are thereby sealed at a pressure of for instance 2 bars.

[0066] In the filling station 71, the additive chambers of the caps 70 are filled with an additive substance, via an arm 72 and an applicator 73.

[0067] In a second pressuring station 75, an applicator 77 at the end of arm 76 introduces a drop of liquid nitrogen into the filled additive chamber of the caps 70. In a sealing station 80, comprising an ultrasonic welding head 81 on an arm 82, a seal is placed on the filled additive chambers.

[0068] The amount of liquid nitrogen that is supplied by the second pressurizing station 75 can be smaller than the amount of that is supplied in the first pressurizing station 64, so that after applying the seal on the additive chamber, the pressure in the headspace of the additive chamber is lower than the pressure in the container and measures for instance 1 bar. It is also possible for the first and second pressurizing stations 64, 75 to supply equal amounts of liquid nitrogen, and to adjust the time for transporting the filled additive chamber from the second pressurizing station 75 to the sealing station 80 to allow sufficient nitrogen to evaporate into the ambient and for the pressure in the additive chamber to reach the desired value.

[0069] In another embodiment, different liquefied or solid or solid gasses may be employed in the pressurizing stations 64 and 75 for pressuring the container and the additive chamber at their respective pressures.

[0070] After completing the sealing step, the filled bottles are transported back onto the conveyor 63 and are transported past a labelling station 85 for labelling and are forwarded to a packaging unit.